Production of nutkient salt



Patented Mar. 6, 1934 PRODUCTION OF NUTRIENT SALT SOLUTIONS Paul Spangenberg, Gut Dummersdort, near Lubeck, Germany No Drawing. Application October 24, 1931, Serial No. 570,977. In Germany November 1, 1930 This invention relates to a method of producing a nutrient salt solution for accelerating the germination and growth of seeds.

It is known already to subject seeds to artificial J germination by means of nutritive substances, such as solutions of superphosphate containing small portions of potassium phosphate, ammonium chlorate and other substances.

The object of the invention is to provide a method for producing a nutrient salt solution by means of which the germination and growth of seeds without earth can be accelerated artificially to a much greater extent than has been possible till now, and the main feature of the invention l is that nitrogenous inorganic substances and carbonaceous organic substances are mixed in watery solution with the addition of nitrogenous acids, such as nitric acid or nitrous acid. The chief constituents of the solution are unslaked 36 lime, sugar, nitric acid, urea, and potassium phosphate, the lime serving particularly as fertilizer; the sugar being the carbon carrier for the cellular structure of the plant; and the nitric acid or urea transmitting the nitrogen.

The method of producing the nutritive mixture is explained by the following example giving the constituents of the solution:

Grams Lime 100 Sugar 500 Water 200 Potassium phosphate, preferably dibasic 500 Free nitric acid 200 a Water 500 Urea 100 Boron 2 Water 500 The first ,step consists in disintegrating the 40 unslaked lime and mixing it with the sugar,

whereupon 200 grams of water are slowly added to this mixture so as to shake the lime and cause the exothermic heat set free thereby to convert the sugar into caramel. The substance thus obtained represents a pastelike or gelatinous mass in which no solid constituents should be found.

Then the nitric acid is added, and'the considerable heat developed thereby causes the gelatinous mass to dissolve into a liquid to which the potassium phosphate is added, the addition of the latter constituent being preferably effected alternately with that of additional 500 grams of water before the solution has cooled down. By slow stirring the thick liquid canbe kept in a softercondition, the 500 grams of water being added during the stirring or afterwards.

According to the purity of the lime, addition of more nitric acid up to-150 grams can take place td further the solubility of the lime. A larger portion of nitric acid will prevent the solution procured from this mixture with water for the treatment of the seeds from acquiring a slimy state so as to render subsequent rinsing of the germs or vegetable matter obtained unnecessary.

Urea and boron are added next, it being possible to substitute manganese for boron. In order to prevent subsequent hardening of the gelatinous paste, an additional quantity of 500 grams of water is added, or urea and boron may be dist0 solved first in a part of the remaining water and then added to the mixture. The jelly thus procured may be kept in suitable containers with the air excluded. For extended storing a preservative may be added. I

The nutrient salt solution resulting from the composition stated above is suited particularly for accelerating the germination and growth of maize, and the constituents of the composition may be varied "for other kinds of seed; To illus trate the comprehensive character of the applicability of the invention, the examples stated below give the compositions for a few other seeds.

Constituents of a solution for soy beansE-simllar to the above.

Constituents of a solution for oats Grams Basic nitrate of lime"; 1000 Sugar 400 Nitric aci 200 1 5 Potassium. chloride 250 Magnesium sulfate 25o Ferrous sulfate 20 Albuminous substances soluble in water.-. 15

Water 2000 11 Constituents of a solution for rye Grams 'According to the invention, the processes of germination and growth can be aided by adding soluble decomposition products of albuminous substances of biological origin, that is animal or vegetable origin to the, inorganic nutrient salts. These products of decomposition are organic building elements for the cells of the plant.

proximately 80 liters of water.

Artificially produced albuminous decomposition substances are also cell stimulants for artificiallyinfluencing growth. The albumen from which these decomposition products are procured may be obtained from meat, casein, lactalbumin or the like, or from oil-free plant seeds. For example, if

lupine seed is to be cultivated, the albumen of the lupines is preferably decomposed, and the decomposition products are, dissolved in water, added to the inorganic salts. From the chemical point of view, the decomposition substances may range from peptone to amino acid. It has been found that certain medicinal chemicals, such as iodine in the form of. potassium iodide, may be added to the solution without'the least trouble and will be absorbed readily by the germinating plant within the nutrient substance described.

This is quite important, as it will permit, by rapid artificial cultivation, to produce food plants for man or beast, which are of great value to the organism. The composition of the nutritive substance'of the plant can be determined by a; suitable composition ,of the nutrient solution. If vegetable fodder containing a very high percentv age of phosphorus is to be produced, a considerable portion of potassium phosphate must be added during the preparation of the nutrient salt solution having the composition mentioned. If the fodder is to contain iron, an iron salt should be one of the constituents. In the same manner any possible harmful influence on the organism of man and animal can be prevented.

A nutrient substance according to the invention is used in the following way:

The seed is placed in flat layers without earth in suitable containers, such as watertight boxes having a regulatable discharge outlet. To facilitate attendance and save space, the boxes may be combined into cabinets by being placed. side by side or on top of. one another. For watering the seed thus arranged 50 to 80 grams of.the nutritive substance prepared are added .to ap- The treatment should preferably be carried out while light and air are excluded; On the first day, watering. with the solution stated should continue for about 10 hours. During the next few days. irrigation should take place three times a day for about half an hour each. The boxes are preferably closed to prevent as much as possible the entrance of light and air. It will then be found that development of heat is an attendant phenomenon of growth, which, owing to its favorable effect, should not be interfered with by airing,

as might happen during watering. The level of the solution within the boxes is chosen so that on the first day the seed layer is fully covered by the solution which during the following days should reach only up to the lower root of the seed. In the course of time the strength of the solution may be varied by concentration or dilution according to the nature of the seed and the purpose for which the product is to be used.-

centimeters high will come after about 8 days a layer having approximately a height of 40 centimeters, which consists of a firm massof roots, blades or leaves grown together, so that it can be removed as a solid block from its container after the period of growth is over. It is a remarkable fact that the grain of the seed is retained andv quite firm after the treatment. Therefore, the vegetable layer can be used in this condition, without requiring cleaning and without waste, as fodder for animals, according to the seed employed for the germination and growth process. Experiments made with maize, cotton seed, lupines, common purple trefoil, soy beans and other seeds were very successful. The leafyportion can be removed from the seed and root portions and used in a suitable manner as raw diet for human beings. The invention is of very great importance for producing feeding stuff. Regardless of the time of the year, fresh green fodder will be available whenever desired, so that it becomes possible to dispense entirely with hay as fodder which readily gets moldy when stored Y and thus may cause disease. Furthermore, the feeding stuff may be selected with a view to feeding animals for the production of either meat or milk. The importance of the invention resides in the rapid cultivation of plants, particularly for obtaining green fodder at a season when nature does not offer it. By applying the'invention fresh food and fodder can be produced within about 5 to 8 days Without tilling the soil and without being dependent on more or less favorable weather conditions. Hospitals or dietetic establishments in particular will be capable. of producing on their own premises for dietetic treatment fresh vegetable foodstufis containing certain nutritive or curativersubstances, such as iodine, and willbe able to control the process completely.

The part of my invention which relates to the method of treating the seeds to cause rapid germination'and growth has been divided out of 1. A method of producing a nutrient salt solu'" tion for accelerating the germination and growth of seeds without earth to obtain an artificial vegetable mass as food for animals and human beings, which consists in mixing nitrogenous inorganic substances and carbonaceous organic substances with a nitrogen-containing and oxygen acid in watery solution.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, according to which artificially obtained soluble decomposition products of alb uminous substances of biological origin are added to the inorganic nutrient salts.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, according to which artificially obtained soluble decomposition products of albuminous substances of vegetable origin are added to the inorganic nutrient salts, the albumen being procured from the kind of plant whose seed is to be treated with the nutrient salt solution.

' PAUL SPANGENBERG. 

